North Korea Urges Kim Jong Un Loyalty

In a New Year message, North Korea’s communist regime urged North Koreans to defend newly installed leader Kim Jong Un “unto death.”

The message released by state media said the army, ruling party, and people should be prepared to act as "human shields" for the son and successor of Kim Jong Il.

It also called for steps to resolve the country’s chronic food shortages and move the impoverished nation toward prosperity.

Kim Jong Un, who is in his late 20s, has been named head of the ruling Communist Party and supreme commander of North Korea’s 1.2-million-strong military following the death of his father and longtime leader Kim Jong Il on December 17.

State media reported that Kim Jong Un spent part of New Year's Day visiting a tank division, saying the new leader praised soldiers for closely watching enemy troops.